Proteins from SARS-CoV-2 reduce T cell proliferation: A mirror image of sepsis
José Avendaño‐Ortiz, Roberto Lozano‐Rodríguez, Alejandro Martín‐Quirós, Charbel Maroun‐Eid, Verónica Terrón, Jaime Valentín, Karla Montalbán‐Hernández, Fátima Ruiz de la Bastida, Miguel Ángel García, Carolina Cubillos‐Zapata, Álvaro del Balzo‐Castillo, Luis A. Aguirre, Eduardo López‐Collazo
Abstract
Increased cytokine levels, acute phase reactants and immune checkpoint expression changes have been described in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we have reported a monocyte polarization towards a low HLA-DR and high PD-L1 expression after long exposure to proteins from SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, CD86 expression was also reduced over SARS-CoV-2 proteins exposure. Additionally, T-cells proliferation was significantly reduced after stimulation with these proteins. Eventually, patients with long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection also exhibited a significant blockade of T-cells proliferation.